Has anyone seen the new 1/5 scale P-40 that is about to be released fro Top Flight in June 2010? I have seen a picture of it and it looks good.
Done up as a replica of the one that Rudy Fraska is flying based in Illinois. It is a green and brown camo Flying Tigers with the Chinese markings (of course) on it.
And don't forget the "Shark Mouth". It will come in an ARF form and set up for Robart retracts and a DA, DLE, BH-50 cc motor ready. Prototype weighs around 22 pounds.
I wonder if this will come in an ARC form? I will see if I can round up a picture of it and post it here.

that would require the proper B/C style LONG nose cowl. which nobody seems to want to
tackle. they just figure they can take the SHORT nose, add a couple 50cals to the nose and
a round carb air intake and call it done. like on the VQ P-40. otherwise yes that would be a nice
P-40 to do.

Well like IBM , microsoft kick there as...... until they finally got around to releasing what the market wanted . How many years has the RC community asked for a Top Flight P40 ???
Lets see , skyshark has there 1/5 P40 floating around $375 , ESM has theres now around $625 , not to menthion the first class kit by Yellow that is almost an ARF .

So at 22 pounds , should we expect the price of the Top Flight P47 Giant , and will the scale outline be better then the current offerings ?

I am not impressed with the ESM , at over $600 you need to see counter balances in the tail , its a major part of the P40 .
The skyshark is one hell of a deal but its not the most favorite of mine I like the P40E the best but still its a great value
And who can say anything but praise about the Yellow P40 .

Now I dont know about the New Century Jet P40 release(photos on web ) and the price tag is way up there plus the reports on the CJ Seafury were not stellar , so who know but I think its in a price class all on its own .

I was looking for Top Flight to release a gold edition version first before a 1/5 release .(but hey that is just my wallet not my taiste

that would require the proper B/C style LONG nose cowl. which nobody seems to want to
tackle. they just figure they can take the SHORT nose, add a couple 50cals to the nose and
a round carb air intake and call it done. like on the VQ P-40. otherwise yes that would be a nice
P-40 to do.

ORIGINAL: p51 fan
I would have prefered a kit version. I would buy that for sure. I think they should keep doing a kit version and an arf version. That way it appeals to everyone.

To the best of my knowledge: they (Top Flite) never did make a giant scale P-40.
As for kit version: most of us never wouda thunk it 20 years ago, but I'm thinking that ARFs are far out-selling kits these days. An interesting way to find out for sure: find out how many kit versions of the Top Flite '60 size' Mustangs and Thunderbolts have been sold compared to the number of their ARFs of the same kits. Anybody have info on that?

But to chime in on what another has stated: how about an ARC version? Even if it was the same price as the covered version, it would save me the hassle of having to remove all the covering and paint, as I have done to so many of my ARFs, so that I could apply a more unique scheme to my warbirds.

How about it Top Flite: offer an ARC version of every warbird ARF that you make?

I don't have any data on the kit vs. ARF sales ratio, but I wouldn't be surprised if ARF's outsell kits 20 to 1, probably more. As for a ARC version....forget it, ain't gonna happen. What vendor in their right mind would buy a truckload of them knowing full well 99% of the buyer market wouldn't want them.

1) I agree would love to see ARC , then you can even make your mods before you go to finish work .
2)Arfs are outselling kits , you can see it in the value of the kits and offerings .
The only kits that maintain after market value are the very rare Royal kits and sometime Pica kits , but Royal seem to demand the most money .
3)Look at the great kits that were offered by Skyshark

that would require the proper B/C style LONG nose cowl. which nobody seems to want to
tackle. they just figure they can take the SHORT nose, add a couple 50cals to the nose and
a round carb air intake and call it done. like on the VQ P-40. otherwise yes that would be a nice
P-40 to do.

personally I can't justify $1600+ on a kit where if I apply a little time, I can get the same
end result for very little $$$ and little weight gain. don't get me wrong, I'm NOT slamming
that kit. but how many more #47 flying tigers can they possibly make?

try this on your P-40.. some weak CA hinges, some very light springs, a little creativity
and done.. functional cowl flaps. the light springs hold them open until you build a little
air speed, then they close automatically. slow down for a landing or taxing.. they open.

i once saw a p-40 at a scale warbird show with an all polished alluminum finish with blue at the root and red and white stripes on the rudder surface it was a thing of beauty but i supose arf monocote wouldnt have the same effect as flight metal lol